Aircraft Factory launches the Heinkel He-219 for FSX

[Kiwikat]

Once she gains some speed she is quite stable for me. Most lengthy planes like that are a bit wobbly until they speed up. I think I might add a couple tenths to the stability values in the cfg file, but otherwise I don't see much wrong with the flight model on my end.


Why isn't this topic sticky'd? She certainly deserves a spot at the top for a bit.

 

[allcott]

The important thing for stability is to use the aft tank as soon as possible after take-off. She is longitudinally marginally stable until the CG moves forward.
Unlike most FSX aircraft you can't just load this up with fuel and go, the aft tank MUST be loaded last, and used first.
To make it more stable you can leave the aft tank at 25% or thereabouts, then use tank I (forward) for take off, then as soon as you clean up and reduce to climb power, switch to tank III on the fuel selector. I've just done a three hour flight around the Bahamas at 20,000 ft and it gets better on a/p as fuel is burned off.

 

[jankees]

here's a few pics from me:

wonderful bird...

 

[YoYo]

I had model of FS9 version. Now, is the time for FSX!

 

[Kiwikat]

Well I put 5 hours or so on her today. I give it a thumbs up for sure! For 25 bucks you can't go wrong, especially for being such a niche aircraft.

Thanks A2A team! :salute:

 

[allcott]

Well I put 5 hours or so on her today. I give it a thumbs up for sure! For 25 bucks you can't go wrong, especially for being such a niche aircraft.

Thanks A2A team! :salute:

Agreed, but anyone else think it feels more like a cheap portover? It doesn't have any of the `expected` features for FSX - the crew can't be removed, there are no add-on animations like chocks, pitot covers, cockpit covers, removable crew (that ladder is a useless animation if the crew won't use it!). Only a single viewpoint in the VC, no pressurisation control or consequence for misuse - even a steamed up canopy would have been nice, it's not like A2A don't know how to do it!

The manual leaves me with the impression of being thrown in at the last minute from an unrelated aircraft. I got quite irritated trying to actually use it last night!

There's no configuration, loadout or any external configuration utility, and you cant use the a/p from the VC, even though it has a Master switch. The pop up you have to use is just default gauges rather than `vintage` equivalents. Sloppy and cheap. And the Simmarket version (German-owned) has no swastikas, yet the A2A download has no option to remove them. That's not thinking clearly about the target market. This is one bird that definitely needs that option!

I hope it becomes a real asset for anything other than screenies after a re-jig and a serious bit of patching. For me the disappointing thing is that a lot of these issues should have been spotted by a developer/publisher as sophisticated as this with history in the aircraft and the market. This was a FS9 aircraft, and still is, in my opinion.

I guess what I'm saying is what this lacks is flair, pride in its execution. I can't `feel the love`!!

On the other side it is a great soundset, does fly quirky, and as a platform has the potential to be something a bit different for FSX. With the crew so far ahead of the wing, it has the potential to be a great sightseeing and travelling package and its vintage, with a nosewheel! For now, its going back in the hangar and I'm going back to the Focke Wulfs and waiting for the Taifun! I guess there's still a lot of weaving in my future!

 

[Ferry_vO]

Beautiful aircraft, shame there's no discount for buyers of the Fs9 version.. $25 for what appears to be an update from comments above rather than a totally new aircraft ..

 

[txnetcop]

Allcot the more you write the more it seems you have an axe to grind with A2A. I suggest you take it up with them rather than smear an aircraft you have never personally flown. Trying to recruit dissent on here is a bad idea.
Ted

 

[stiz]

And the manual looks comprehensive until you start trying to use it for more than scan reading it, when you find holes in the operating procedures and a number of key performance parameters missing.

It works fine for me, tells ya what you need to know and where the controlls are. All thats needed in a manual really.

And a question for the experts. Should the armoured screen be opaque? I thought it was armoured glass, same as on most WWII windscreens, the only difference being it hinges up.

its plate armour, not armoured glass

Unlike most FSX aircraft you can't just load this up with fuel and go

yea ya can .. well i did anyways

Agreed, but anyone else think it feels more like a cheap portover? It doesn't have any of the `expected` features for FSX - the crew can't be removed, there are no add-on animations like chocks, pitot covers, cockpit covers, removable crew (that ladder is a useless animation if the crew won't use it!).

"expected" i dont expect all those in an fsx plane, didnt even put them down for a must in an fs9 plane .... there just gimmicks used so developers can put extra things on the "features" list, same with fireing guns.

The manual leaves me with the impression of being thrown in at the last minute from an unrelated aircraft. I got quite irritated trying to actually use it last night!

Up to normal standard for me, tells ya what you need to know and where everything is.

And the Simmarket version (German-owned) has no swastikas, yet the A2A download has no option to remove them. That's not thinking clearly about the target market. This is one bird that definitely needs that option!

well in germany its illeagle to sell stuff with swastikas on unless your a museum etc etc so that'll be why the simmarket version hasnt got em. Also your on about how inacurate the plane is overall and you want the swastikas removed???

Also as said by roger, bit of elevator trim and she flys like an angle! well worth the money if you ask me. Only quibble i have is that i wish the observer/rader op/whatever the heck the guy doeser area was fully modeled and we could play about with all his toys!

 

[glennc]

Thanks, Stiz. You said in much better detail what I had in mind.

One thing to mention: A2A has two levels of aircraft, Accusim and Aircraft factory. Think of it as the difference between two model lines from a car maker. It is designed to be a jump in and go aircraft.

I tried the Czech aircraft a while ago and found it to be very nice. I don't "speak" a lot of metric and no German but I still like it a lot.

Other thing, for those concerned about the swastikas check A2A's forum. They have released a cleaned up set. Other than that, I'll trust our favorite repainters to come up with some creative stuff.

Glenn

 

[allcott]

OK Stiz, your expectations are met.

Can you show us how to drop the drop tanks? How to select the drop tanks? Where the fuel dump levers are? Why the armoured screen is not present in some models when, according to the manual, it is? Where is the missing page in the manual?

The manual suggests features are present that are not. And is not complete about those that are. As a result it has given, I think, a false impression about what the product is.

On a scale of 1-10 I give this about a 5, maybe a `6 with potential`. As yet unfulfilled potential - which makes it even more of a pity that AF/A2a seem more intent on burying criticism than addressing it.

But we'll see how things develop. Perhaps in a few months when all the kinks are ironed out it will be worth reinstalling.

 

[stiz]

OK Stiz, your expectations are met.

are indeed

Can you show us how to drop the drop tanks?

fuel dump levers, see page 20 in the manual for location

How to select the drop tanks?

for fuel ... 3rd notch back on the fuel tank selector. See page 17 in the manual for location

Where the fuel dump levers are?

see above about how to drop the drop tanks.

Why the armoured screen is not present in some models when, according to the manual, it is?

didnt see any mention in the manual that the armoured screen is present in all the models

Where is the missing page in the manual?

what missing page??? mine are all numbered correctly.

 

[Kiwikat]

^^^ What Stiz has been saying.

I certainly don't need nor care about wheel chocks or anything else that doesn't have to do with the plane flying, or at the very least, moving. This is a 25 dollar aircraft that's nicer than any other 25 dollar aircraft I've bought. It's got the benefit of being a really cool subject material too. I will be doing a ton of hops with her.

:salute:

 

[Cleartheprop]

Wow! She looks great indeed! will get her as soon as I am back to FSX!
Thanks to those who posted so nice screenshots! :ernae:

 

[jankees]

This is the black paint without the swastika. Just overwrite the normal texture file, after making a backup. Link is good till 27 november.

 

[dvj]

Flying for about an hour now. Not a big fan of German WWII machines, but this is interesting enough to own. You can eject the canopy, and use the ejection seat. Nice touch. There is a very nice, subtle engine smoke effect during flight. The sound files needed a bit of correction for me. On throttle back, the prop pitch does not change so I removed the several prop files from the sound folder (made backups) to eliminate the drone. Much better now.

I don't know what all the fuss is on the other items. Seems to fly just fine. No probelms with landing or take off. If anything seems too easy to fly. An Accusim version would have been nice.

 

[txnetcop]

I confess I'm in love with it after 3 hours and I'm an Accusim maniac! Great build A2A! A real classic in the making for FSX!
Ted

 

[Warrant]

Great to have this bird back in my inventory!

Great job, A2A!

Still taxieng, but what a joy and a FPS friendly bird she is!

 

[txnetcop]

Great to have this bird back in my inventory!

Great job, A2A!

Still taxieng, but what a joy and a FPS friendly bird she is!

Yep I can even run this one on my old laptop! I like that!

 

[alehead]

I had this in FS9, and although I never flew her much, it was a much loved aircraft, particularly since I thought it was one of the most ugly I had in my FS9 hangar...

It is good to see her released for FSX...:salute:
I had to check and see if it was the DB603 in the FW190Ds... unfortunately not, they were Jumo213s...

Now there is a series I really want to see done in FSX, the Fw190Ds. Classics Hangar or A2A (preferably with Accusim)...

Dreams...

Andrew